Many evangelicals believe that God chooses who our president will be. If we get a president that is not good for the country, then God is punishing us.  If He wants America to prosper He will give us presidents that will make the economy grow.

Based on Romans 13:1 – “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

Some interpret this Scripture to mean that if God establishes the authorities then we get who He wants.  Years ago most every insurance policy insured for everything, except “Acts of God”.  They defined those acts as any unusual weather change, earthquake or a hurricane.  That was an “Act of God” which man had no control over. In fact, most anything bad that happened was believed to be caused by God.  As a child I was told that if I didn’t behave God would punish me.

The more we have studied Scripture, the more capable we have become in understanding that there are times when we believe the Bible was incorrectly interpreted from the Greek to English.  Many no longer believe that every bad act of nature or bad president is caused by God.  We realize that God allows Satan to do evil things but God does not cause them.  In fact, is it possible that Satan now picks our presidents?  He entered Judas!  Could he not enter an evil president?

I Samuel 8:6 – 7 – “But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,’ this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.  And the LORD told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.’”

The Israelites rejected having judges who received guidance from God.  They wanted to be like all other nations and have a king. They wanted laws, an army and a human leader.  They no longer wanted to rely on God and His appointed judges.  They thought a new system of government would improve their nation.  It was their disobedience to God that a king was allowed. Had the Israelites submitted to God’s leadership, they would have prospered beyond their greatest expectations.

Does this story sound anything like what we have seen happening in America the past few years?  Would you say that America has rejected God as our supreme leader?  Have we refused to let God lead us, our family and our government?   Are we living as the pagan world lives? Do we want to be more like European nations?  What difference, if any, do you see between the Israelites during Samuel’s time and Americans today?

I am one who believes that God allows us to choose any president we want.  If we chose a president that is as rebellious as King Saul, then we will get the same or similar results that the Israelites received.  So weigh all of the positives and all of the negatives.  Consider the consequences to all Americans when you make your choice.  Be careful that the values of others do not develop your attitude and your behavior.  When God’s people want to be like unbelievers, we are headed in the wrong spiritual direction.  Do you believe our nation is being led by God-fearing people or by leaders typical to what the I Samuel Israelites chose?

Acts 5:29 – “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings.”

“A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.”  George Bernard Shaw

Our constitution promotes equal right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  It meant every person would have an equal opportunity to be successful and so rewarded.  Should the government help each person have the opportunity to become successful or should they make it possible for equal outcomes.  If you are one who believes the government is to equalize wealth outcomes and the redistribution of wealth, we could end up with the same governmental system as Europe.  Let’s keep our constitution as it is and what it was meant to do and not change it.  Then let’s get this nation back to being focused on Christ and dependent on God.  Can’t we learn from history?